Read More

So here's a guide to legal driving limits...

According to Drinkaware’s Chief Medical Adviser, Dr Paul Wallace, the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream depends on three things:

The amount you take in

Over what period of time

The speed at which your body gets rid of it

How long does it take your body to break down alcohol?

It takes around an hour per unit, but this can vary depending on a number of things, including: Weight, gender, age, your metabolism, how much food you have eaten, what you have been drinking, whether you’re taking medication and the type of medication.

Can you speed up the process?

No. Drinking lots of water, or eating a big breakfast might help ‘sober you up’, but it won’t actually quicken the speed at which alcohol leaves the body.

Will coffee help me sober up?

Afraid not. You can’t speed up the process. Of course, re-hydrating with plenty of fluid is good for you but alcohol takes time to leave your body.

So when is it safe to drive again?

As a rough guide, it’s around three hours if you drink one large glass of wine (250ml/three units), about two hours to break down a weak pint of beer, cider or lager (3.6% - few drinks are this weak any more), or three hours to break down higher-strength lager, beer or cider (5.2%).

How many units does a drink contain?

There is still confusion over this, but the NHS says there is roughly:

175ml glass of wine of average strength (12%) - 2.1 units

250ml glass of wine of average strength (12%) - 3 units

One pint of low-strength lager, beer or cider (3.6%) - 2 units

One pint of high-strength lager, beer or cider (5.2%) - 3 units

One single measure of spirits - 1 unit

What is the legal driving limit?

In Wales, England and Northern Ireland the drink drive limit is as follows:

Micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath: 35

Milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood: 80

Milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine: 107

It isn’t possible to say how much you can drink and stay below the limit as it affects people differently.